Munoz earned his Green Beret in 1990 and joined the 3rd Special Forces Group in time to deploy for the first Persian Gulf War. After years of deployments with the 3rd Group, Pedro joined the U.S. Army Parachute Team - the Golden Knights - in 1999.

Three years later, prompted by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Munoz returned to Special Forces. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group in 2002.

More than three hundred family members, friends, and brothers-in-arms congregated Friday at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Chapel here to mourn the loss of Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Munoz.

Munoz, 47, died Jan. 2 from wounds suffered during offensive combat operations in Afghanistan’s Herat province. He was an intelligence sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Sun shined through the stained glass windows in the military chapel during the afternoon ceremony. Mourners filled the chapel’s pews, paying their respects.

Soldiers and civilians openly wept when the three brothers-in-arms described Munoz’s energy and enthusiasm during the "Remarks by a Friend" section of the ceremony.

“Pedro had a tremendous enthusiasm for life,” said Master Sgt. Johnny Mulford, a parachute team leader assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Black Daggers Parachute Team. “Wherever he went, whether it was hiking as a civilian or parachute jumping into Yankee Stadium, or providing humanitarian relief to children in Haiti he was making friends.”

Munoz served in Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, and was a member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights.

Mulford remembered hiking, while on leave, with his close friend on Sept. 11, 2001.

“We had been on the Appalachian Trail, away from civilization for a few days, when we heard about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,” said Mulford. “When Pedro found out what had happened, he told me he wanted to be transferred immediately from the Golden Knights back to 7th SFG in order to fight terrorism.”

After the presentation of awards, bagpiper John Ewell played a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Then per military custom, The Last Roll Call was announced, followed by Firing of Volleys, Sounding of Taps, Benediction, and Postlude.

As the memorial service ended, Soldiers and civilians mingled outside the chapel comforting one another and sharing stories of the life of Pedro Munoz.

Munoz, born in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986, at the age of 29. He graduated from the Special Forces Communications Course and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 1989.

In 1990, Munoz deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

*****************************************

He is survived by his wife and daughter, Gisela and
Dalia, respectively.

Sometimes it is too much for Gisela. So much good fortune, but her husband is gone. "We had so many plans," she said. "I just try to live one day (at a time)."

Gisela makes it by focusing on Dalia. She wants to see her daughter graduate from high school, go to college and maybe one day - not anytime soon - get married and have children of her own.

Dalia Munoz, 17, wrote about her father's love of the outdoors and her desire to follow in his footsteps in an essay that won an award at a conference for survivors of war casualties.

**Information from SFAHQ.com, The Department of Defense,
USASOC used in this Article.